Phone and Shouting Ban 'Revolutionizes' School Facing Violence Issues
After children would set up fights at schools through apps, the videos would be put online. Many kids left class hurt at the words said on these apps.
Mr. Tate, who also banned loud yells, said that kids missing classes now was "almost none" and that there was now more work being done in class. When Mr. Tate took over as head teacher of Cardiff West two years ago, he wanted to know why the kids behaved the way that they did. His issues were skipping class, being mean, and fighting over app chats.
"We saw fights during lunch, during breaks. We had kids walk out of class as they got messages that hurt them," said Ms. Stevens.
Mr. Tate said children would "leave class because they got a note to meet another kid." "We saw these were big problems," he said.
The changes have been put in place to address the issues, which cover the ban on phone usage for kids, teachers, and guests during school hours put in place starting last summer.
Mr. Tate stated it's too simple to say fights are gone. The phone ban helped stop kids from texting to meet in bathrooms or skip class, which cut down on them not being in class. "It's changed how kids act," said Ms. Stevens.
While the Welsh government didn't make a rule against phones in all schools, they mentioned they are working with schools to make sure they have plans and tools to lessen bad phone use and help with learning.
The ban was not the only change introduced. Mr. Tate mentioned a strong focus on teachers building good, respectful links with students without yelling. "We are a no-yell school. No one yells here," Ms. Stevens added. "You won't see the old days when kids were loudly scolded by teachers."
Lanre, 16, thinks the rule set the year before to stop phone use has really interfered with how children behave these days. He said that children pay more attention in class and fewer mean acts are done.
Mr. Tate went on to talk about the need to have rules that are clear and to be consistent in going after them. Work and help are also intended to treat the causes that give rise to wrong behavior. Such children get the extra reading help the way it was given in primary in order for them to get a proper grip on their other subjects, Mr. Tate said. "There is a very strong relationship between inability to learn and bad behavior," he added.
The school has looked over what it teaches after talking to people who live nearby. They found that skipping breakfast and drinking energy drinks could be bad, so now they focus more on eating right in class.
Mr. Tate mentioned that schools need to figure out "what the problems are, see what you can do with the cash you have, and then check if what you're doing is working." "We need to be sure that the cash is used right and that it goes to things that really help with teaching.
"Over half of the staff in high schools said they were worried about kids bringing weapons. Nearly half of the staff in little kid schools were worried about kids hitting teachers. The Welsh leaders said this big talk would "give clear rules on using phones in schools. " "I think it's knowing what schools face and handle, because we do way more than just teach," Mr. Tate said.
